Police identify pedestrian in fatal collision

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Authorities have identified the pedestrian killed in South Lake Tahoe on New Year’s Day as 49-year-old Randy Breeton.

Breeton was struck by an SUV while trying to cross Highway 50 near the Town and Country shopping center. He was identified by police through fingerprint records.

Over the past five years, South Lake Tahoe Police have arrested Breeton 38 times for public intoxication. Each time, he was intoxicated to the point where he was unable to care for his own safety, according to Lt. Brian Williams.

Breeton was found to have an open beer can with a straw in it inside his jacket at the scene of the collision. An autopsy Friday will determine if or to what extent Breeton was intoxicated at the time.

Breeton was struck and killed by an SUV driven by 19-year-old Uriel Ortiz. Ortiz was not injured in the collision, was not driving under the influence of any substance and has been cleared of any fault in the incident.

According to Williams, the police investigation has identified that Breeton caused the collision by attempting to cross the roadway in a dark area outside a marked crosswalk while wearing dark clothing.

Witnesses of the incident are asked to call Detective Doug Sentell at 530-542-6100 in regard to case number 1401-0106.